Jordan MERS update

Five additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Jordan.

According to the WHO, the patients comprise two males and three females aged from 10 months to 78 (median age: 53). Among them, two are associated with an outbreak in a hospital in the capital of Jordan, Amman; two are contacts of one of the patients and the investigation into this patient’s history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Separately, two had underlying illnesses; one was a heavy smoker while another one was asymptomatic. In addition, one previously confirmed patient died.

To date, 1,569 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 554 deaths. Of note, 1,356 were confirmed in nine Middle East countries including 1,227 in the KSA, 76 in the United Arab Emirates, 23 in Jordan, 13 in Qatar, six each in Iran and Oman, three in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon and Yemen.